We've already written an article on data backups, but it's certainly a topic worth revisiting. This time, we'd like to speak a little more practically about data safety. As we mentioned before, there are two sorts of computer users: those who have lost data, and those who will. In other words, it's easy to take the data on your computer for granted until you've lost it. ITS aims to promote backup awareness so that data loss doesn't have to occur at all.
One common computing assumption is that data can be "repaired" like the physical components of a computer. The problem is that data doesn't exist in the same concrete, physical sense as the glass on your display or the motor on your DVD drive. An insurance company can provide reimbursement for fire damage to a house, but they won't be able to restore photographs, other unique possessions, and the memories that go with them. The files on your computer are similar to these entities: even if a technician gets your broken computer working again, your files could very well be lost.
Hard drives are the part of the computer where your data resides, and they are also the most failure-prone component. For this reason, every computer user should own an external hard drive (at least one!) dedicated exclusively to backups. The more places you keep your data, the safer you'll be when one of them malfunctions. Hard drives are like any other machine that experiences lots of wear and tear – they will eventually wear out and break down. eDisk works quite well for backing up your important documents, but today's digital lifestyle involves a sizable amount of music, photos, and video. These sorts of files can consume vast amounts of disk space, and eDisk is a limited-space solution designed for academic purposes. So, the best place to back up large amounts of digital media is an external hard drive.
These drives are becoming more and more affordable. Currently, a 1-terabyte drive (which should be more than enough for most media collections) costs around $100. Backups are easier than ever, too: the newest versions of both the Mac and Windows operating systems feature built-in, automated backup software that takes the effort out of making backups. There's really no excuse not to do it!
If you have any questions about backups or purchasing hard drives, the Call Center staff will be happy to help you.
-Christopher Silansky '05, Desktop Support Specialist
